Need info on two Luft. pilots from II./KG30 that attacked the Lancastria on 17.06.40

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Chris is right. Willi Erkens was an Uffz as of 27.4.40, not a Lt. as I indicated above. This reduces the names of known 5 Staffel pilots from this period to seven. Lt. Werner Baumbach, another well-known member of 5./KG30, was away on a special assignment during this period and is not included in this total.

Chris, I now believe that the 3./KG30 crew attacked and damaged the 20,000-ton "SS Oronsay" in an earlier attack on the Loire Estuary that day. Luftwaffe records make it virtually certain that the attack on the "Lancastria" was conducted by 14 Ju88As from II./KG30, including a/c from 5 Staffel. Several pilots from that attack wave claimed hits on or near the "Lancastria." Unfortunately, we don't know the names of the pilots making the bomb damage claims. It appears to me highly likely that certificates such as you published for Uffz Willi Erkens for his 27.4.40 ship attack were issued to each of those pilots claiming bomb damage on what turned out to be the "Lancastria." However, whether we ever find any of them is impossible to know at this point. Probably very unlikely.

Regards,

[udf_00]

10 May 1940 :
Reported to II./KG 30 at Oldenburg with crew of Uffz Gross B, Uffz Harras Bf & Gefr Arndt Bs. Meeting with Leo Krantz.

11 May 1940 :
Tried to join Leo Krantz in 1./KG 30, but detailed to 5./KG 30 which sustained heavy losses, 2 StaKa and 3 crews are missing. ( total 5 crews ??? )

14 May 1940 :
Reported to 5./KG 30's StaKa Oblt Schneider.

17 May 1940, Perleberg :
Transfered from 5./KG 30 to 4./KG 30 under Hptm Haas.

15 June 1940 :
Detailed to 5./KG 30 again.
Flew with Fw Friedrich in a kette led by Fw Lorbeer to Le Coulot.
T/O Le Coulot (with half-full tanks) at 1630 to Amiens.
T/O Amiens (with full tanks) at 1900.
(I'm not that sure that Hptm Peters was from 5./KG 30)

16 June 1940 :
T/O Le Coulot (dicey with full tanks) at 1245 to attack a bridge at Tours.
With Lt Mann in a kette led by Oblt Stoffregen followed by a rotte of Fw Erkens and Uffz Schröder. (again mention of his crew member Gross). Landed at 1710, Lt Mann missing.

17 june 1940 :
T/O at 1500.
(Only mention of two new??? members of his crew, Moritz and Jupp and of Uffz Geffgen skid-landing on his 4x250 Kgs underwing bombs.)